Buffelsdrift Game Lodge Eco-Ambassador Program

Everyone has to make his own experiences, so no special piece of advice. But I can tell you will have a lot of new impressions. Sleeping in a tent, not in a house, listening to nature and the animals in the night, and out of bed in the early morning hours. Working with and for the animals like preparing food, looking after the elephant and lions or cheetahs. Another task, for example, is repairing fences, filling up the water holes or planting spek booms. And to have a good co-ordinator as Tanica and her Daisy (a wonderful old V8 LandRover).

I came to Buffelsdrift with the hopes of getting close to the wildlife of South Africa while doing something good for our planet, as well. My experience exceeded these hopes by far. Not only did I get to work very close to and even with the animals, I also learned a lot about conservation and hospitality. The employees are some of the kindest and most attentive people I have ever met, they made me feel welcome from the very first day. Especially our volunteer coordinator, Tanica, always did her very best to combine the (sometimes very hard but necessary) work with fun activities. My volunteering time would not have been the same without these wonderful people.

I recently had the pleasure of participating in the African Wildlife Experience, and it was truly incredible. From close encounters with majestic lions to hands-on conservation activities, every moment was unforgettable. I highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in wildlife conservation and adventure. The program not only provided valuable insights into conservation practices but also fostered personal growth and meaningful connections with both fellow volunteers and the remarkable wildlife of Africa. Overall, it was an enriching and fulfilling experience that I wholeheartedly recommend to others.

I wasn't expecting the low amount of volunteers. But that was actually the best thing about being Eco-Ambassador at Buffelsdrift. You really get to know everyone by heart, they go from being strangers to being friends in no time. Also being so few, all the guides and the workers will know you in an instant, especially if you stay for longer. That makes everything more special. To be honest, more than the 7 volunteers we were would not be fun, as there would be no space or activities. The best part about being here is of course also Tanica, the Volunteer Coordinator. She made sure that our time here was well spend and that we could make the most of it. She is the best, without her it would not be the same. The feeding was honestly the most fun and exciting thing being here. Being so close to the hungry rhinos and buffalos twice a week was exilirating and just beautiful. The reserve in general is beautiful, there is a lot to see. And also being able to be so close to three majestic elephants has its advantages, as they are just unbelievable to walk past.

This experience overall was unique for me, it was something I have never done. As a law student, I was a little bit unsure about what nature conservation would consist of. But now I can say this experience was an enrichment to my life. I have learned so many things from the little things like cutting up fruit for the elephants and cleaning up their enclosure to the bigger things like building a dam or relocating a cheetah.
I have mostly learned that everything is connected. The little, easy, things may look less important because they are easier but in the end it all contributes to a bigger picture and that is the conservation of nature at Buffelsdrift.